Folder-taper

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CORRUGATED BOXES IS PROVIDED WITH CONTINUOUS FOLDING BELTS WHICH CONVEY A FLAT BOX BLANK FORWARD AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, BUT GRADUALLY, FOLD THE OUTER PANELS OF THE BLANK INWARD. AFTER THE OUTER PANELS ARE COMPLETELY FOLDED AND WHILE THE FOLDED BLANK IS STILL BEING MOVED FORWARD BY THE FOLDING BELTS, TAPE IS APPLIED TO THE FOLDED BLANK TO PRODUCE A FOLDED TUBULAR BOX. IMMEDIATELY AFTER APPLICATION OF THE TAPE, THE FOLDED TUBULAR BOX IS DELIVERED TO A SQUARING SECTION, WHERE A SERIES OF SLAPS OR BLOWS ARE DIRECTED AGAINST THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE FOLDED TUBULAR BOX, WITH SUCH SLAPPING BEING DONE AT A TIME BEFORE THE GLUE ON THE TAPE HAS N OPPORTUNITY TO SET TO A CONDITION WHERE STRAIGHTENING WILL BE IMPEDED.

Sept 20, 1971 A. F. SHIELDs 3,605,576

FOLDER-TAPER Filed June 13, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. F. SHIELDS FOLDERTAPER Sept. 20, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1969 Sept' 20, 1971 A. F. SHIELDS 3,605,576

FOLDER-'PAPER Sept 20, 1971 A. F. sHlr-:Lns 3,605,576

FOLDER-TAPER Filed June 13,"1969 5 sheets-sheet 4 Sept. 20, 1971 Filed June 13, 1969 E@ EW INNJMMUNH.

.UNE

United States Patent O 3,605,576 FOLDER-TAPER Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignor to S & S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N Y. Filed June 13, 1969, Ser. No. 832,976

Int. Cl. B31b 1/72 U.S. Cl. 93-41 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for producing corrugated boxes is provided with continuous folding belts which convey a flat box blank forward and simultaneously, but gradually, fold the outer panels of the blank inward. After the outer panels are completely folded and while the folded blank is still being moved forward by the folding belts, tape is applied to the folded blank to produce a folded tubular box. Immediately after application of the tape, the folded tubular box is delivered to a squaring section, where a series of slaps or blows are directed against the trailing edge of the folded tubular box, with such slapping being done at a time before the glue on the tape has an opportunity to set to a condition where straightening will be impeded.

This invention relates to high speed box folding and taping apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of this "type in which tape is applied after the box panels are completely folded and while the box is in motion.

For the most part high speed folding machines for producing folded tubular corrugated boxes utilize either a glued lap or a glued tape to form the joint between the free ends of the folded over panels. In the prior art, the production of taped boxes was at a much slower rate than the production of boxes having glued laps. However, taped joint boxes are more desirable under certain conditions, since in folded tubular form they dor not have the added or third-ply thickness resulting from the glue lap and so will form even stacks. Further, the absence of a glue lap allows for the packaging of objects which would otherwise interfere with an internal glued lap.

Prior art apparatus for automatically folding and taping has been relatively slow when of the type that squared box panels prior to application of the tape and it was difiicult to maintain squareness during and after application of the tape. In apparatus that squared the panels after application of the tape, the tape was applied to one panel before folding of the panels, making it difficult to keep the tape straight on the finished box. Substantial setting of the tape adhesive took place before folding of the panels, so that the tape did not adhere equally to both folded-over panels, and in many cases the adhesive had set to such an extent that squaring became diiiicult.

Apparatus constituting the instant invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior art folder-tapers by utilizing continuous folding belts that extend through a taping section located immediately behind a squaring section. After the belts have completely folded over the outer box panels,

tape is applied to form the joint between the folded over panels, and so little time elapses between application of the tape and the squaring operation that the latter is not interfered with.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide novel improved high speed apparatus for automatically folding and taping a box blank to produce a folded tubular box.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this type in which tape is applied after the outer blank panels are completely folded inward, and at a time immediately preceding squaring.

3,605,576 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 ICC Still another object is to provide apparatus of this type in which folding belts extend through the taping section to hold the blank with completely folded over outer panels during the taping operation.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this type in which the taping head may be withdrawn to an inactive position and the apparatus thereafter operated to produce folded tubular boxes having glued laps to join the folded over panels.

These as well as other objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of automatic apparatus, constructed in accordance with teachings of the instant invention, for producing stacks of folded tubular taped boxes from at box blanks.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of that portion of the `apparatus of FIG. 1 in the region of the taper head, with frame members of the apparatus being removed to more clearly reveal the operating elements.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the region of the taping head.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken through line 4 4 of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of arrows 4 4, and showing a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the region of the taping head.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken through line 5 5 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of arrows 5 5.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken through line 6 6, looking in the direction of arrows `6 6 showing an enlargement of the tape applying wheel.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken through line 7 7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of arrows 7 7.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross-section of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing the target switch supporting rod when the taping head is in operation.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, with the taping head deactivated and the apparatus set for the handling of very narrow boxes having glue laps.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a box blank.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the box blank of FIG. 10, with the outer panels thereof folded over almost to their iinal folded positions.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the box blank of FIG. 11, with its outer panels fully folded over and a closure tape strip applied.

Now referring to the figures. Automatic box making apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 includes sheet feeding mechanism 21 which feeds box blanks 22 (FIG. 10) one at a time from the bottom of a stack 23 of such blanks. Such blanks 22 move to the right with respect to FIG. 1 into folding section 24 where a pair of folding belts 25, 26 (FIG. 8) engage the outer panels 27, 28, respectively, of blank 22 and fold such panels 27, 28 inward along score lines 31, 32, respectively, extending parallel to the direction of travel for blanks 22, to produce folded tubular box 29 (FIG. 11) having an open joint 33 formed between the adjacent edges of panels 27, 28. Thereafter joint 33 is closed by tape strip 34 applied at taping section 35 to produce taped folded tubular box 36 (FIG. 12). All during the transformation of box blank 22 to a folded tubular box 36, blank 22 in its various modified stages is positively held and conveyed by folding belts 25, 26 in cooperation with lower conveyor belts 37, 38, respectively.

Elements 37a, 38a (FIG. 9) are the lower or return flights of the respective lower feed belts 37, 38.

Immediately after application of tape 34, box 36 is conveyed by belts 25, 26, 37 and 38 below a short tape holding belt 39 (FIG. 2), which applies downward pressure directly on tape 34. This serves to give the glue or adhesive on tape 34 an initial tack on box panels 27, 28

but does not permit such adhesive to fully set. The front end of taping belt 39 is supported by roller 98 and the rear is supported by roller 62. A plurality of pressure rollers 99 on individual pivoted arms apply a downward force to the lower flight of belt 39. Belts 25, 26, 37 and 38 then deliver boxes 36 to stacking, straightening and delivery section 40, where boxes 36 are formed into underfed stack 41, the top portion 42 of which is periodically engaged by delivery pushers 43 and removed in a forward direction. While boxes 36 are near the bottom of stack 41, reciprocated transverse bar 44 applies a series of slaps or blows to the trailing edges of boxes 36, with reaction forces resulting from front barrier 45 acting on the leading edges of boxes 36 to straighten folded over panels 27, 28 before the adhesive on tape 34 has set. A series of boxes in pile 42 are held in compression by hold down bar 42a. By the time pushers 43 have fully removed pile 42 from under hold down bar 42a, the adhesive on tapes 34 of boxes 36 in pile 42 has set and no further movement of panels 27, 28 is possible.

Since sheet feeder 21, folder 24, and stacker straightener 40 are constructed in accordance with teachings of the prior art, detailed descriptions thereof are not found in the specification. Instead, for details concerning the constructions of sections 21, 24 and 40, reference is made to my U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,982,189, issued May 2, 1961; 3,279,788, issued Oct- 18, 1966, and 3,409,148, issued Nov. 5, 1968.

Particular reference is now made to FIGS. 2-7 for an explanation of taping section 3S. In FIG. 2 tape strips 34 are cut from tape ribbon 51 which is drawn from supply roll S2 located in tape prefeeder 53 of conventional construction. From supply reel 52, tape 5,1 is guided by idler rolls 55, 56, 57 and applicator roll 60. In the region between idler 57 and applicator 60, tape 51 passes over drive roll 58 and beneath depresser roll 61 aligned opposite roll 58. Roll 58 is driven in unison with applicator roll 60 by chain 59, which also provides the drive for roll 62 driving taping belt 39 and positioned at the rear end thereof. Depresser roll 61 is also driven at tape speed by a chain means (not shown).

Depresser roll 61 is part of assembly 63, which is pivotally mounted to pin 64 and includes tape cutting knife 65. Solenoid 66, when energized, pivots assembly 63 counterclockwise for the cutting of tape 51 by a knife 65 and simultaneous lifting of depresser roll 61 from tape 51 so that the latter ceases to be driven by roller 58. When solenoid 66 is deenergized, return springs (not shown) associated therewith move assembly 63 clockwise, thereby lifting knife 65 from its cutting position to permit the leading edge of tape to move past knife 65. Simultaneously, depresser roll l61 moves tape 51 against driven roller 58. Energization of solenoid 66 commences when rear microswitch 68 is operated by the leading edge of folded box 29 and solenoid 66 is deenergized when front microswitch 67 is engaged by the leading edge of folder blank 29. As is well known to the art, the longitudinal positions of target switches 67, 68 are independently adjustable to insure that the length of tape strip 34 and placement thereof are both precise.

As seen more particularly in FIG. 7, applicator roll 60' is a hollow member, having a perforated peripheral edge 69. Interior chamber 71 of roll 60' is connected through conduit 72 to a suction pump 72a shown in FIG. 2, so that a suction force is present to draw tape 51 against periphery 69. Stationary member 73 disposed within chamber 71 is provided with an arcuate wall closely fitted over a portion of the perforated interior surface 74 so that suction is present only at a selected portion of peripheral surface 69.

In the region where tape strip 34 is picked up by applicator roll 60, moisture is applied through nozzle 75 to the glued surface of tape strip 34. The moistened tape strip 34 is carried counterclockwise by applicator roll 60' and meets blank 29 with folded panel traveling forward,

4 or in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 6. At the point where applicator 60 deposits strip 34 on folded blank 29, peripheral suction is not present. However, in order to insure that residual suction docs not hold strip 34 to applicator 60, compressed air is applied through nozzle 76 to drive tape strip 34 away from peripheral edge 69 of applicator roll 60. In the event that compressed air from nozzle 76 is not effective to do its intended job, pointed finger 77 extending into peripheral groove 78 mechanically strips tape strip 34 from applicator rollv 60.

The portion of tape applicator 35 described to this point is mounted to support plate 79 which is supported on bars 79a so it can be positioned laterally in order to locate the tape band 51 directly over the point when the box panels are joined. Carrier bars 79a are, in turn, mounted in carrier plate 80 which is movably mor-nted to stationary frame 81. That is, through the operation of motor 82 (FIG. 4) support plate 80 may be raised and lowered being guided in channels 80a, 80h. It is noted that even though only one support plate 80 is referred to, there are actually two movable support plates 80, 80 mounted at opposite sides of apparatus 20.

With plate 80 in its lowered position of FIG. 4, the taping elements are in active positions for supplying and applying tape strips 34. When support plate 80 is moved upward a distance of approximately six inches, the taping elements are inactive in that gear 83, which is mounted to support plate 80 and provides the drive for chain 59, is disengaged from gear 84 mounted to shaft 85 on stationary frame 8'1. Bevel gears 86, driven from line shaft 87, drive gear 84. With the taping elements raised to their inoperative positions, apparatus 20 may be adjusted, as in FIG. 9, to produce very narrow boxes having glue laps '91 (FIG. 9). Simultaneously, with the upward movement of support plate 80, blocks 92, 93 supporting bar 92a and associated lead screws A94, 95 for adjusting the respective target switches L68, 67 move down so that target switches 67, 68 are below the feed path of folded blanks for producing glued boxes 200. This is seen in FIG. 9, which shows longitudinal frame members 96 adjusted inwardly to positions for handling the narrowest box 200 that can be produced by apparatus 20: In order to move longitudinal frame members 96 to their positions of FIG. 9, it is necessary to remove support roller 97, which is normally positioned below tape applicator roll 60. Roller 97 may be lowered so that it is contained completely within the channels 96 which can remain in the machine without hindering the running of the smallest size gear lap boxes.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides a novel folder-taper, in which tape is applied to the folded box immediately before such box enters the squaring section, and precise control is maintained over .the boxes in the taping section by the same belts that perform the folding operation. When the apparatus is used for producing boxes with glue laps, the taping elements are moved to completely inactive positions and are not subject to wear during this type of operation.

Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skiled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Box making apparatus including feeding means for feeding box blanks forward one at a time from a stack of such blanks; first means for transporting blanks received from said feeding means forward along a feed path and simultaneously folding outboard panels of such blanks inward along score lines extending in the direction of said feed path to posi-tions overlying panels adjacent thereto; second means for applying closure means to connect such outboard panels together at their edges remote from the score lines; said first means including a first and a second longitudinally extending continuous moving conveying and folding belt in engagement wi-th blanks received by said first means; said belts remaining engaged with and retaining control of blanks with inwardly folded panels and moving such blanks forward while said second means applies closure means thereto forming them into folded tubular boxes; said belts move lbox blanks with closure means applied thereto forward of said second means; and third means positioned forward of said second means to receive folded tubular boxes produced by said l'irst and second means, and straighten panels of such folded tubu lar boxes by applying front to back pressure thereto.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the third means also forms folded tubular boxes produced by the first and second means, into an underfed stack.

3. Box making apparatus including feeding means for feeding box blanks forward one at a time from a stack of such blanks; first means for transporting blanks received from said feeding means forward along a feed path and simultaneously folding outboard panels of such blanks inward along score lines extending in the direction of said feed path to positions overlying panels adjacent thereto; second means for applying closure means to connect such outboard panels together at their edges remote from the score lines; said first means including a first and a second longitudinally extending continuous moving conveying and folding belt in engagement with blanks received by said first means; said belts remaining engaged with and retaining control of blanks with inwardly folded panels and moving such blanks forward while said second means applies closure means thereto forming them into folded tubular boxes; a device for feeding and applying selected lengths of adhesive bearing tape to box blanks having inwardly folded panels while adhesive on said tape is moist; and a third means for stacking and straightening box blanks after said second means has applied tapes thereto, and pressure applying means acting to hold the tape to folded tubular boxes while the latter are being straightened and 'stacked by said third means.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which pressure acting to hold the tape to folded tubular boxes is maintained until the adhesive on the tape h-as set sufliciently to exert a holding force preventing straightened box panels from returning to their unstraightened positions.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which said device for feeding and applying selected lengths of tape includes a suction roll for delivering such selected lengths of tape to connect adjacent free edges of inwardly folded box blank panels. l

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which there is a means for applying fluid pressure to counteract suction at said roll for positively driving said lengths of tape into contact with the inwardly folded box blank panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,167 12/1925 Labombarde 93-41 2,029,394 2/ 1936 Sidebotham 93--41 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner 

